When Pets Lose Their Best Friend: Understanding How Animals Grieve and Supporting Them Through Loss

The loss of a beloved pet creates ripple effects throughout the entire household, affecting not only the human family members but also the surviving pets who shared their lives with the departed companion. Research shows that over 60% of pets experience four or more behavioral changes after losing a companion, with many pet owners reporting noticeable changes in the behavior of remaining animals following the loss of a companion animal in the home.

How Animals Experience Grief

While it is unlikely that pets grasp the concept of their human companion being gone forever, there is definite evidence to suggest that they grieve the loss. This is shown through behavioral changes after a pet experiences a loss, likely in response to missing the company of their companion and the change in their shared daily routine.

Dogs don’t necessarily know that another dog in their life has died, but they know that individual is missing. Pets have a limited understanding of death as finality, yet their emotional responses mirror many aspects of human grief.

Common Signs of Pet Grief

Surviving pets may display several behavioral changes that indicate they are processing the loss of their companion:

• Changes in Appetite: About 30% of pets have decreased appetite after losing a companion. For many dogs and some cats, eating is a social experience and they do not eat well without companionship.
• Altered Vocalization Patterns: Cats and dogs may bark, meow, or howl more than usual. Watch for an increase in plaintive vocalizations – sad sounds that may be directed toward you or may occur in locations that the deceased pet favored.
• Sleep and Activity Changes: Grieving pets may sleep more than usual, while surviving animals may change their sleeping habits. They may sleep in unfamiliar places or sleep where the deceased member used to sleep.
• Seeking Behavior: Approximately 60% of pets repeatedly look for lost companions in their normal napping spots. If your pet constantly returns to his deceased friend’s favorite sleeping or resting place, he may be experiencing grief.
• Increased Clinginess: About 60% of dogs and cats cling more to humans after the loss of a companion pet.

Supporting Your Grieving Pet

Just as humans need support during times of loss, pets benefit from compassionate care as they navigate their grief:

Maintain Routine: Most pets function at their best when they follow a daily routine. Do not change their basic routine or the structure of their day any more than is absolutely necessary.

Provide Extra Attention: Spend extra time with your dog. Be more affectionate. Make a point of petting your dog more often. However, respect your pet’s desire for “hands on” attention such as holding, cuddling, and petting. Many people report wanting to get closer to remaining pets in the home but find that the pets do not always welcome more attention, especially if it is something they are not used to. Try not to push unwanted attention onto them.

Encourage Physical Activity: Make time for more exercise, walk, hike, and play more often. Provide more opportunities for exercise and play – this will be good for both of you.

Be Patient: Comforting grief in pets is similar to comforting grief in humans. Various expressions of grief will fluctuate from day to day, and sometimes hour by hour. The important thing is to be patient with your animal and understand that although grief can feel like a roller coaster ride in the beginning, eventually the ride will smooth out.

The Healing Timeline

The behavior changes tended to resolve at different times, with changes in affection subsiding between two to six months following the death of a household pet, for both dogs and cats and most other behaviors gradually stopping within two months of the loss. Similar to humans, the grieving process differs for each individual dog experiencing it, lasting from weeks to months.

When Professional Help Is Needed

While grief is natural, certain signs warrant veterinary attention. If your pets are experiencing physical symptoms or behaviors that have you concerned, or if these symptoms last more than a couple of days to a week, a visit to your veterinarian is warranted to rule out illness or disease. If there is dramatic weight loss, consult your veterinarian.

Considering End-of-Life Care

When facing the difficult decision of saying goodbye to a beloved pet, families in the Houston area have compassionate options available. Angel Oaks Pet Crematory, a family-owned business serving Harris County for over 25 years, understands the profound bond between pets and their families. The entire family strives to deliver the Angel Oaks values of FAMILY, QUALITY, & TRANSPARENCY. At Angel Oaks, we understand that the loss of a loved pet is a very emotional time. Letting go is never easy, and our family’s goal is to ease the burden as much as we can by making our end of life care and after care services as easy on you and your beloved pet as possible.

For families in specific areas like Sheldon, pet euthanasia Sheldon services are available through Angel Oaks, providing both mobile and in-facility options to meet diverse family needs. Angel Oaks Pet Crematory has been serving pet families throughout Sheldon and the greater Houston area with compassionate end-of-life care. Our licensed veterinarians understand that losing a pet is losing a family member. We’ve guided hundreds of families through this difficult decision.

The Importance of Understanding Pet Grief

Pets living with humans under stressful conditions had elevated cortisol levels in their fur, suggesting that pets do sense our emotions and may exhibit similar physical stress responses. This can certainly translate to stress brought on by grief or loss, so it’s safe to say that your pet is also affected when you are grieving a loss.

Understanding that pets grieve helps us provide better support during these difficult transitions. Even for pets, grief is an individual process that will affect each one in a different way. By recognizing the signs of pet grief and responding with patience, consistency, and love, we can help our surviving companions navigate their loss while honoring the memory of the pets we’ve lost.

The journey through pet loss affects every member of the household, both human and animal. With proper understanding, support, and professional guidance when needed, families can help their surviving pets process grief in healthy ways while maintaining the loving bonds that make our multi-pet households so special.